On the way to Otawara, our train got delayed because of heavy winds. It was stuck for an hour! I've never been stuck on a delayed train so long. >.<
The festival is a taiko festival where 9 groups from different villages (Otawara, Okubo, etc.) carry out their yatai carts (that are very nicely decorated, I might add) and play taiko while they go around the area. There are a bunch of people pushing, pulling, and turning the yatai while the taiko players sit inside and play. This is the matsuri that Yuhki's group waits for all year, so it's very exciting for them. We walked with them around the town for a few hours before Roy and I got way too cold and a little bored. (They play the same rhythm the whole day...I don't know how they do it...and in that horrible wind.) So we went to cafe*repo, this cute cafe by the karaoke place and had waffles and coffee. (Kinako/kuromitsu waffles are really good!) Then we went to karaoke for a couple of hours. (They literally do the yatai thing all day!) When we got out around 7:30, I met Kuroha and Chitose (Yuhki and Roy's friends) and we got to see all of the yatai come together and 'battle'. I don't really understand how it all works, but it's really cool to see so many people and the different styles of yatai and everything. There was one girl that looked really, really cool standing on top of the yatai because her clothing was blowing in the wind and her hair was done all cool. Then there was lighting that just made her look really bad-ass in general. XD It was so cold though!!!!
When the drumming was finally over (it took a very long time), we went to an izakaya (drinking place) for dinner. For some reason, my appetite hasn't been very good lately, but the food was great there. I tried 'bakasashi' which is a mix of raw horse and deer!!! I've really been getting my share of strange foods this year.
(これは祭りモードのユウキ! 祭りは最高って...笑)
Anyway, after that, we went to karaoke again. (I'm glad the workers changed from when Roy and I were there earlier that day. Hahaha.) We ended around 4 and then slept in until around 11 or so this morning. The actual, actual matsuri was today, but it doesn't go for as long. When we went out to the street, everyone was so nice. Country people are waaaaay nicer than city people. There was one store that offered us beer and gave us sushi boxes..for free. Yummy!
After watching the yatai battle again for a little while, we stopped at a taiyaki (fish-shaped red bean filled pastry things) stand that's really well known in Otawara. People come from the next prefecture over to get taiyaki from them, and I can see why. It's the best taiyaki I've ever eaten. Filled from the head to the tail with azuki. Mmm...and piping hot.
（面白かった、人のいない電車は）
Then Roy and I headed back here. The train car we were in was empty, which was cool since that NEVER happens in Tokyo. We stopped in Ikebukuro to eat at Latin, my favorite spaghetti place. And now I'm finally back, but tired. I'll upload pictures when I get the chance. (Or energy. Haha.)
